Allison Sampite-Montecalvo

Allison covers Chula Vista, National City and Imperial Beach government in the South County. She previously was a general assignment reporter for The Star-News in Chula Vista for nearly three years, where she won first-place awards for news stories covering public safety. Prior to that she wrote features as a freelancer for Uptown News. She is a proud former page and copy editor for the Southwestern College Sun newspaper, where she won numerous awards for her writing. She has a B.A. in journalism from Humboldt State University.

CHULA VISTA  The appointment of city trash hauler Steve Miesen to the City Council has drawn a growing number of complaints from citizens concerned about the process and possible conflicts of interest for the newcomer. Most recently, resident Russ Hall filed a complaint last week requesting that the state attorney general or outside counsel review the Jan. 12 appointment of Miesen. Hall’s complaint claims that Miesen has a conflict of interest as a division ...

CHULA VISTA  The Chula Vista City Council recently approved city sponsorship for two staple events in the city for 2015. The city’s annual HarborFest, an outdoor event along the city’s waterfront and the 50-year-old holiday tradition of the Chula Vista Starlight Parade are moving forward after the council on Feb. 17 agreed to file an application for a $25,000 community enhancement grant from the county. The parade was held annually since 1963 until 2012. ...

CHULA VISTA  Two Chula Vista police officers were recognized recently for their contributions to restore Harborside Park to citizens. Evelia Kahl and Tyler Wall were recognized during Tuesday's City Council meeting by Barbara Jimenez, the director for south and central regions for the county’s health and human services agency. Jimenez presented them with awards as Live Well San Diego champions. “These officers are stellar examples of what true commitment and dedication looks like,” she ...

CHULA VISTA  Chula Vista council members on Tuesday agreed to consider a later time to start council meetings after an initial change was apparently not effective. The change in time from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., is meant to be more convenient for the public and most efficient for city business and expected to be voted on at the March 3 meeting. In December, council members voted to push back meeting times from 2 ...

CHULA VISTA  The Living Coast Discovery Center on Wednesday received a $2 million endowment from San Diego Gas & Electric to help the center continue operations. California Coastal Commissioner and county Supervisor Greg Cox proposed the contribution, along with a $500,000 contribution to the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge, as part of a wetland mitigation plan for an SDG&E project on the Chula Vista bayfront. The project includes demolishing an existing substation on the ...

CHULA VISTA  Chula Vista has overhauled its website so residents can more efficiently communicate with the city, officials say. Marketing and communications manager Anne Steinberger navigated council members through the improved site during the Feb. 3 council meeting. The revamp has been in the works for more than a year and involved numerous staff from several city departments. “This website is more functional,” Steinberger said. “It gives users better access to the translation functions ...

IMPERIAL BEACH  Imperial Beach council members recently approved a coastal permit that would allow a hospitality group to build a resort on Seacoast Drive. But before work can begin, the demolition of 29 vacant residential units near Ebony Avenue, including five buildings, must occur in the commercial and mixed use/residential area. One building would temporarily remain for office and security purposes until a future development project is submitted and approved. The request is from ...

CHULA VISTA  The Chula Vista City Council recently approved the master plan for Otay Ranch Montecito Park, which will include tennis and basketball courts and a place for dogs to exercise. Construction is expected to begin this year. The 7.5-acre park site on the city’s east side, is in Otay Ranch Village 2 at the northwest intersection of Santa Victoria Road and Santa Diana Road, adjacent to the future Montecito private swim club. “The ...